LOU DiBella credits two things for luring him into the boxing business: Muhammad Ali and “Rocky.”

“They are probably the two biggest influences for me to be in boxing,” said the former HBO boxing czar and current CEO of DiBella Entertainment. ” ‘Rocky’ is still the greatest icon of an underdog in the history of movies in my view. Life is always going to knock you down. It’s about whether or not you can get up. That’s why the whole ‘Rocky’ franchise is cinematic history and I’m so happy and proud and honored to have a little part of it.”

Actually, DiBella has a big part in “Rocky Balboa,” the sixth (and final?) movie in the “Rocky” series. If you watch closely, yours truly can be seen during the weigh-in scene midway through the movie. DiBella has a much more prominent role.

He plays himself, promoting Antonio Tarver’s character Mason “The Line” Dixon. DiBella is seen early in the movie trying to talk Dixon, the unbeaten but unappreciated heavyweight champion, into fighting an exhibition against the long-retired and down-on-his luck Balboa. Later, DiBella tries to talk the 50-something Balboa into the fight and eventually is host of the press conference to formally announce the exhibition that turns into another classic blood-spilling brawl.

DiBella’s best scene, however, was when he spoke no words. DiBella, in the ring moments before the fight, wears the look of worry and concern on his face that’s usually present when one of his real fighters is about to do battle.

“You saw the look of fear in my face in the ring in the movie and it’s the same look of fear I have when my guys fights,” DiBella said.

The promoter was named Roger Brown in the original script, but after casting DiBella, who hadn’t acted since eighth grade, Stallone decided to use DiBella’s real name.

“I don’t look like a Robert Brown,” DiBella said. “I’m really too ethnic for that, so Roger Brown became Lou DiBella. I’m grateful to Stallone for letting me be myself. It’s one of the few things I’m good at.”

The movie has opened to mostly good reviews, and DiBella thinks only the original “Rocky” is better.

“You watch this movie and you remember what’s great about boxing,” DiBella said. “It’s the story of the underdog, and that’s the best thing about our sport. That’s what makes the sport great. That’s the only thing that keeps me in it.”

DiBella is one of those promoters who is angered by the evils and injustices of the sport, but admires the courage of its athletes and relishes how it can turn children of poverty into millionaires.

“I could have stayed and worked at a law firm,” DiBella said. “But I would have never had lunch with Nelson Mandela. I never would have rubbed elbows with President Clinton, and I would have never met so many of the great people I’ve met because of boxing. Now to sit there and look up and you’re in a ‘Rocky’ movie, it’s all good.”

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Better start saving your pennies if you want a good seat for the Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather showdown May 5 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Ticket prices will start at $2,000 with the cheapest seats $350. No word when tickets will go on sale.

Reps from Golden Boy Promotions were in Manhattan this week to meet with HBO PPV officials to begin planning an unprecedented promotional campaign that will include a nationwide press tour that starts in February.

“We’ve talked about it, the press and the fans have asked for it, and now we’re going to put it all on the line and fight,” De La Hoya said. “I can’t wait for May 5.”